I have this date correct, burned in to brain. On March 21,1957 I was inducted into the army and sent to Ft Ord for basic. I grew up just east of Eugene, OR, across an open field from the Cascade/Siskiyou line switch. Just RR E of the Siskiyou switch was the RR W Judkins switch so there was quite a bit of activity. It was kind of a neat place to see everything the SP had, some stopped to switch to the Siskyou line. A couple weeks before 3/21/57 I was outside working on a garage to store my car while away in the army. After not seeing a steam locomotive for some time I heard a cab forward heading RR West with whistle blowing almost constantly. Ran into the house and told my dad to come outside, the last steam locomotive was leaving town. That night there was an article in the local wrapper with a picture. While at Ft Ord it seems I saw on at least two occasions a steam locomotive pulling the Del Monte. Is this a fact or is the mind going? During basic training we were restricted to post except one weekend at four week training. I went to Santa Cruz on the way went by Watsonville and saw several steam locomotive including at least one cab forward. This would be about 5/1/57. Do any of you know when the last steam locomotive pulled the Del Monte? Any idea when all steam was gone from Watsonville? Any pictures of steam at Ft Ord.

Thanks
Jim